Foldable prayer rail



Jan. 2, 1951 A. E. LANDAU v FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL Filed Jan. 5, 1949 FIG.2.

INVENTOR ARGO E. LANDAU ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 A. E.LANDAU FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ARGO E. LANDAUATTORNEY 1951 A. E. LANDAU FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJan. 3, 1949 FIG. l0.

FIG. 6. FIG. 7.

FIG. ll.

INVENTOR ARGO E LANDAU FIG. l4.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1951 s: PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE PRAYER RAILArgo E. Landau, StiLouis, Mo., assignor to Royal Bond, Inc St. LouisMo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 3, 1949, Serial No.68,978 r This invention relates to prayer rails and, more particularly,to certain new and useful improvements in portable kneeling rails.

An important object of the present invention is toprovide a portableprayer rail of simple, compact and economical construction whichiscapable of being folded into a compact form for packaging, storage, orfor being carried from place to place, as the case may be.

It is also an obiectof the present invention to improve on theconstructionand arrangement of prayer rails generally'and to providesuch an arr'angementof parts therefor that the folding or erectingoperation can be effected quickly and conveniently in a' single"manually controlled operation. 7

Another object of this invention may be found in'the character andoperating nature of the mechanism herein preferred for accomplishing thesimultaneous folding or erecting operation and in the arrangement ofelements to afford a positive, but easily releasable, retention of theprayer rails in erected position. With the above and other objectsinview, my

, invention resides in the novel features of form,

construction, arrangement; "and combination of parts'presently describedand pointed out in the claims."" In the accompanyingdrawings (threesheets) Figure l isa perspective view of a portable prayer rail inextendedor serviceable position constructed in accordahcewith andembodying the present invention} Figure 2 is a perspective view of theprayer rail in'folded or collapsed position; i 1 Figure 3 is a top planview of the prayer rail in extended position; i

b '-Figure 4 isa fragmental front elevationalview of the prayer rail inextended position;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the prayer rail with a framehousing endcover removed to show the important details of the foldingmechanism therefor; I Y

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9,-'10, and 11 are transverse sectional views takenalong lines 66, 'I--1, 8 -8, 9 -9, l--l9, and l l-l I respectively, ofFigure Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary transverse sectional viewstaken along line l2-|2 of Figure 11, showing the toggle joint inunlocked and locked positions; and

.t vFigure 14 is an 'end elevational view of the prayer rail with aframe housing end cover removed to show the folding mechanism when theprayer rail is in folded or collapsed position.

" "Referring now by reference characters to the 9 Claims. (Cl. 155'-166)I: drawings, which illustrate a preferred emboditit ment of myinvention, A designates a prayer rail comprising two spaced similar endhousings h on which have been mounted for pivoting movement an arm restmember I and a kneeling board 2.

The assembled relationship of the housings h, arm rest member I, andkneeling board 2 is such to permit a smooth and rapid movement from thefully opened position shown in Figure 1 to the compact folded orcollapsed position shown in Figure 2.

The end housings h of the prayer rail A are integrally formed or cast toprovide an inner side wall 3, front and rear end walls 4 and 5, and atop wall 5 coveringthe forward and central portions of the housings h,said top wall 6 being extended upwardly, as at 8, centrally of thehousings It; An outer side wall, in the nature of a removable cover 1,is secured to the respective walls 4, 5, and 6 in any desired manner.Thus, each hous ing h defines an interior space which is open along thebottom side, as at :r, and along the top side rearwardly of the wall 6,as at y, and is readily adapted to receive and enclose foldable parts ofthe assembly and the folding mechanism presently to be described. I j

Rigidly mounted, at one end; in the inner wall 3 of each housing h andextending across the interior space for opposite end support in asuitable recess formed in the removable cover I are pivot pinsB, Ill,for swingably supporting legs ll, l2, respectively, which are, in turn,provided with longitudinal recesses I3, M. The rear wall 5 of eachhousing It is provided with a pair of internally threaded, verticallyaligned apertures l5, [6, for receiving adjustment screws l1, l8,respectively, which may be threaded to project at their forward endsinto the interior space of the housings-h for reasons more fullyappearing hereinafter.

"The arm rest member I, positioned between the housings h adjacent therear ends thereof, comprises a rectangular panel [9 having an artisticdesign 20 suitably provided thereon and being further provided about itsmargins with a rearwardlyturned flange 2'I. Suitably secured tothe'fiange 2| on the upper transverse margin of the panel I9 is atransversely extending arm rest 22, which may, if desired, beappropriately covered or upholstered. Secured by screws 23 to the lowerend of each vertical flange 2| is a hinge element 24 integrally providedwith a forwardly extending boss 25 having a longitudinal recess 26. Thebosses 25 respectively project through the top openings 3 of thehousings h and 3 .4 are pivotally held in place by pins 21 which aresigned to be pivoted into a closurewise disposisupported at their endin, and extend between, tion between the upper margins of the Walls 3,1, the wall 3 and the cover 1. When the hinges rearwardly of the topwall 6 when the prayer rail 24 are swung outwardly of the housings h,the A is in extended or serviceable position, as shown end surfacesthereof will ordinarily abut the-5 in Figure 5, and into concealedposition within upper surfaces of the rear walls 5 and thereby thehousing I when the prayer rail A is in folded hold the member I in aplane substantially at or collapsed position, as shown in Figure 14. Theright angles tothejloiigitiidinal aiies'of'thehouslinlis45, 46,- arealso pivotally connected at their ings h, as best seen in Figure 5. Itwill be noted, forward ends on opposite'sides' of the upper end however,that the adjustment screws I1, l8, will "10 of the leg l2 by a pin 55.abut against the legs H and hinge elements 24, 'In operation, theforegoing link mechanism respectively, on being threaded *rsr'warmy'wm'assu'methe position shown in Figure 14 when through the aperture andthus act as adjustable the armrest member I, the kneeling board 2, stopmeans for varying the: relative sentient: v andthe legs "I I; l2fo'fboth end housings h are said leg H and member I. 15' 'infolded orcollapsed position. In this folded The kneeling board 2 is swingablymounted position, it is to 'be'fioted that the arm rest membetween theforward ends of the 'hbrising'sh and her I -'is disposed between theupper margins of is suitably mounted at its ends on anglesections thewalls 3 of the housings h and extends for- 28 having depending flanges29 integral "thfe W' ffilly y n i h u i s h i v yin r l w'th foroperative engag' t w 20 tionship to the kneelingboardf it being furthernotedthat thelegs ll; !-2,' an" 'hmges-{ze a bosedin'cbneealedmanner" h,whereby the maximum-degreeol'f sis is provided. To u'nfold ore' ecttheprayer-rail 2 5 A, a liiting pressure is'exerted on the em res:member musing it 11. 0 e pivote upwar' i3} through action or the "hingeelements 2 4, w h pivoting "effects a rearward movement or .5, dalwimmthe housings lr so the legs n, {negrosesw ng-odwnw op r bie positonfthrough extens on necjtinglinks i sf iffrespectively it menu 7-.inthe'wall ii.

V er as-r new '35 "thereof to bear "sewn onthe "hinge between the togglelinKs 39, 4&3, 42 thereb ing tlielattr past dead-den os'lti'onar'i'di'ng 'th ej'ar, "t i and e if iifiioiddtr Se iceaple p'o ti'on. In-thisthe inner ends oftrie 'lirigboard'i a rest and are supported on Igra'll'y '"onthe inwardly A housing walls 3. Y 'Ilie'cover"nieriiber"'5fisfidis posed closurewise between the'fuppermafgl'fisbf thehousing hforwardlyr of 'the top Wal that the interior ofthehousing -h isoompletely obscm'ed-j-from v-iewof =nsers' of the :prayerrail 'lx. "Inmoving the prayer'*'rail- A from -exteirded' to folded position, "thekneeling board-2 isswur'ig reversely, whereby the inner faceof thelegfil of "the rocker member 33 *is 'swung upwardly againstthe hinge*bi'hlifi eausm it t0mDvef ilp'-' wardlyfthereby iinlock'ingthe'n'ichanis y fwith 'the 'link ani-sin 'Ifim We ar a q 't r stews-n tl'iearmrestnieniberfl will eif ec ward pivoting of the hinge e nemes spinsfl, ca sing 'a' 'sim'ult etraction fo he links to I efi'ectjafolding} movementfwhei'eby t lino the pin 4] ,I interm heil ksfiaa,140., i s' a 1r ia d n ciea 1a notch m or the lgT ein.

otally mounted liii'kinechani'smis" oved'foiwardlyiirthe' ings h, e egsH," e g 'iiiiwardly iiiwtrie 'iibusm'g's raid the member to come to restbetween the, upper margins of the housings h in fully collapsedposition. I

The foregoing detailed description of a pre ferred kneeling railconstruction and an operative fol'dable mechanism therefor will serve toillustrate the principal features of the invention in accordance withthe stated objects.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrange;- ment, and combinationof the several parts of theprayer rail may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed, without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l-. n prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front/and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting andfolded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a togglejoint providedin each housing, linkage mechanism disposed ineach housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest memberand the respective front and rear legs, and a rocker member pivotallymountedon each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint foroptional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest memberand the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect andsupporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement.

2. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between sup porting andfolded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed ineach housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest memberand the respective front and rear legs, a rocker member pivotallymounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint foroptional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest memberand the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect andsupporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and akneeling board operatively carried by and extending between the endhousings.

3. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting andfolded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed ineach housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest memberand the respective front and rear legs, a rocker member pivotallymounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint foroptional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest memberand the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect andsupporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and akneeling board pivotally mounted on and extending between the endhousing, said board being operably connected to said rocker member formovement between a rearwardly directed serviceable position and a foldedposition.

4. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end 6: housings, front and rearlegs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporteing, and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to anddisposed between the end housings for movement betweenerect and foldedposition, a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanismdisposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the armrest member andthe respective front and rear legs, a rocker memberpivotally mounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle jointfor optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm restmember and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erectand supporting position or un locked to facilitate folding movement, akneeling board pivotally mounted on and. extending between the endhousing, said board being oper ably connected to said rocker member fo imove: ment between a rearwardly directed serviceable position and afolded position, and means operably connected to the linkage mechanismfor closurewise disposition between the upper mar-' gins of the housingwhen the toggle joint'isi-n straightened position.

5. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting andfolded positions, an armrest; member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed ineach housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest memberand the respective front and. rear legs, a rocker member pivotallymounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint foroptional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest memberand the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect andsupporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and akneeling board operatively carried by and extending between the endhousings, said kneeling board being engageable with the toggle joint tolock same. i

6. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting andfolded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a kneeling board rockably mounted between the end housings for movementbetween operative and collapsed positions, actuating means disposed ineach housing for connecting the arm rest member and the respective frontand rear legs, and locking means operable responsive to movement of thekneeling board for optional engagement with the actuating means wherebthe arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectivelylocked in erect and supporting position.

7. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legspivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting andfolded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposedbetween the end housings for movement between erect and folded position,a kneeling board rockably mounted between the end housings for movementbetween operative and collapsed positions, actuating means disposed ineach housing for connecting the arm rest member and the respective frontand rear legs, and locking means opera me'u'mjermidthe resmeetiye frontand rear 1e'g s. a reeker member pivota11y "rammed *on each eachhoufiingfor connecting the toggle joint with hie erm rest 'menioer alidthe respective frerjt and rear legs,e;*V-=Shspeb1'rocker'member'pivtitany mounted on each housing andembracingly fl'ispqed around fthetogglejoint "for Optional Straightening faind bending thereof wherebythe arm frest member and "the front and rear llejgs "may bere313eetqiw'lelyiitackegi' in erect and sqppe'rh i ng positi'nbriinlocked t0 "fabilitat fqldi't ig' movement, and a. kneeling boardoperativeiy carried by and eite'xiding"'between'- the end Imusm gs. V

REFERENCES CITED I The failed/mg references are of recdr'a' ih the filebfthis patent:

UN ITED STIATES Number Name Date 1-, 981'3 87 Kovats Nov. 20,19342}041',19'6 *Li'ska -'Ma,y 19;1-9'36 2; 1'o1;2 59 Landau Dec. 7,193722253306 *Kovats DeC. 17,- 1 940 H for "movement between eret' "andfblded pesitien, =af -togg-le'jdint *providefi in V

